Motor vehicle



Patented Nov. `30, 1926.

UNlTED STATES 1,608,805 PATENT OFFICE,

ALFRED MEHOUSE, OF DETRQI'I, "MICHIGAN, ASSIGNGR TO PAKJLRD MQTOR CAR GGMPANY, F DETEDT, MICHG-AN, A COBPRATN 01T* .'Li'l'ifGlAiN.

MQTOR VEHCLE.

, ipplicataa filed. April 2,

This invention relates to motor vehicles and particularly to the axle and wheel parts thereof. t

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a practical steering knuckle for use with the new largewtire of the flexible side type. These tiresare adapted for use with W air pressure, that is, much lower than has heretofore been thought feasible,

` struction in connection with soft flexible side tires such as referred to above.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a steering knuckle with its pivot and its spindle seyinclined that easy steering may be obtained with the use of soft tires of the ,-flcxible side type referred' to above. f

Other, and perhaps as important, objects will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, which forms a part of this specification, in which the figure is avertical sectional view, with some parts in elevation, of `a vmotor vehicle made in accordance with this invention.

Referring to the drawing, 10 is a motor vehicle frame, shown only in section' in the drawing, and 11 is an axle, shown as the steering or front axle of the vehicle. A spring 12 is shown in section as secured to the axle and it will be understood that this spring has itsiends suitably connected to the frame for supporting the latter. As both ends of the axle are the saine onl one end is illustrated and will be describe A steering spindle 13 is mounted at the end of the axle and for the purpose of r'educing friction the spindle is pivoted on ball bearings. A pivot pin 14 is shown as extending through the enlarged end 15 of the axle and a thrust bearing 16 is provided at one end of the pivot pin and an annular bearing comprising two rowsy of balls is indicated at 17 at the other end of the pin. The steering knuckle extends both above and below the pivot in 14. and the bearings 16 and 17 are seatc in the parts 18 and 19 of '1923. Serial No. 622,362.

`the steering knuckle. A suitable cap 20 is threaded in the upper part of the steering knuckle to retain the bearings and the pivot pin in place.

The steering knuckle 13 is formed with a spindle 21, which has two separated bearings 22 and 23 thereon, the bearing 22 beingar- .ranged at the base `of the spindle andthe bearing 23 at the outer end thereof.. A wheel hub 24 is mounted on the bearings 22 and 23 Vto rotate about the spindle 21 and a nut 25 retains the bearings and wheel` in place. A hub cap 26 covers'the nut and the end of the spindle. It will be seen that lthe axis of the knuckle pivot is somewhat inclined to the vertical and the spindle 21 is also slightly inclined from the horizontal so that the wheel does not revolve in a truly vertical plane. The degree of inclination of l the axes of these parts will be hereinafter more particularly referred to. It is to be noted, however, that neither' inclination is ""very great and that the construction is such .that the wheel hub and the bearing 22 are brought very close to the axis of the knuckle pivot ii.

The wheel hub 24 is formed with an annular flange 27 which extends radially from the huband the outer part of which is in a plane substantially in the middle of the inner bearing 22. This sets the hub flange well'.

. in towards the base of the knuckle spindle and gets it close to the knuckle pivot.

Dctachably connected to the flange 27 of the wheel hub is a disk wheel 28, a ring 29 and a series of bolts 3() being shown as the clamping means. The outer circumference of the4 wheel 2S is in the forni of a rim 31 and a tire 32 is mounted on the rim as by the usual dcxnountable split ring The rim and tire are positioned substantially in line with the llange 2T of the wheel hub so that the plane of the middle of the tire tread is approximately in the plane of said iiange 27.

This brings the tread of the tire well in under the inner bearing 22 on the spindle so that the greater portion of the load is borne by this bearing and the outer bearing 23 acts as a steady bearing. I

The tire 232 is of the new flexible side t pe which is adapted for low air pressure. rlilley tire shown is a reduction from a tire approximately 7 x 34" and it is designed to carry about twenty pounds air pressure.

This low pressure is possible by reason of thel v 41 is mounted on a spindle 43 with whichit .'.c'onstruction of the tire casing and the tire when under normal load is considerably deformed or iiattened and takes substantially the position shown in dotted lines in the drawing. In full lines the tire is shown as inflated -and non-compressed:

Also mounted upon the Harige 27 Iol the wheel hub 24 is a brake drum 34, the attaching boltsV beingvpartieularlj/J illustrated in the upper part of the vieu' at This brake drum sets will within the rim of the wheel or ing knuckle and it is in other words the rim overhangs the brake drum as is evident from an inspection ofthe drawing. Brakes 36 are pivot-ally mounted als at 37 on a support 38, which support is mounted upon the enlarged part of the steerconnected thereto by a series of bolts 39. This support closes the inner opening of the brake drum. At its upper part the brake operating mechanism is `mounted. This is shown in the form of a Vthe 4spindle 43 onithe of the steering knuckle and steerlng pivot, without at the saine time havcam 40, which may be mounted between the free ends of the brake Shoes, and a univer- ,sally operating shaft 4l and an arm 42 are connected to the cam. One end of the shaft telescopes and a universal joint 44 supports ing either of the Wheel bearings surround the steering pivot, as in some prior constructions. This bringing in of the wheel towards the steering pivot makes easy steering' possible withoutY complicating the knuckle construc- .vtion mdf-easy steering with a soft tire such *f frame l0 of the ve- The steering knuckle may, of

asthe tire above referred to -is most desirable.

The turning movement of the tire on the ground is most readily brought about if .the Ydcmnwardly extending axis of the steeringr knuckle pivot meets the ground substantlally l in the middle of the portion of the tire tread that is 4in contact With thel ground. With the flexible side type of tire above referred to this lpoint is different being nearer the axis otthe Wheel than in tires heretofore used and as shown the downwardly i extending axis of. the knuckle pivot is so. inclined relative to the plane of the wheel that it .meets the ground substantially in the plane of the middle of the tire tread. And yet the axis of the knuckle pivotis only about ten degrees removed from l/Vhile, I have herein described in some detail a specific embodiment of my invention, which I deem to benew and advantageous and may specifically claim, I do not desire it to be understoody that my invention is limited to the exact details of theconstruction, as it Willbe apparent that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of Any invention.

aving thus described my inventiom'what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a motor vehicle, thecombination of anl axle, a steering knuckle pivoted thereon at aslight angleto the spindle arranged slightly inclined from the horizontal` a wheel hub mounted to' rotate o n said spindle, a disk hub and so formed that the middle of its tread is in a plane adjacent .the inner end of said spindle; a tire 4of the flexible side type mounted on said wheel', 'a brake drum for said wheel'set well within the rim thereof so that the entire drum is within .the tire,`a"1f brake mounted 'within' said means for operating said brake.

In testimony whereof I attix my signature.

ALFRED MooRHoUsE.

drumi 'and wheel mounted on said the plane of the middle of the wheel because of the close-in construction of the wheel and associated parts.-

vertical and having a 

